Direction signal



A.- L. JOHNSGN DIRECTION SIGNAL March 14, 1933- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1931 March 14, 1933. AL. JOHNSON DIRECTION SIGNAL 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 13, 1931 Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STAT-ES,

ALVIN L. JOHNSON, OF WORCESTER; MASS'ACHU'SETTS.

DIRECTION SIGNAL Application filed January 13, 1931. Serial no. 508,490;

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple and easily visible direct1on signal, operable pneumatically and thusnot involving the mechanical complications 5 which have prevented most of the direction signals that have been invented from being put on the market. The invention also 111- volves the provision of a signal at the rear or front of a car in which two arms or indicators are arranged to hang down by gravity normally and either one can be inflated and displaced to show unmistakably the proposed direction of movement simply by pressing a bulb on the steering column r elsewhere in the front of the car; to provide this signal in a simple inexpensive Way; to provide a construction of very light materials having no mechanical parts likely to get out of order readily, and to provide a very simple means for attaching it, if it is to be applied to the rear window of a car; and also to provide means whereby when the signal indicator is expanded and put into operative position it will retain this position for a short time and then automatically collapse without any further attention on the part of the operator.

Other objects and advantages of themvention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a rear view of a car window showing a preferred form of signal constructed in accordance with this invention in position therein;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the window showing the signal in side elevation but with the arms removed;

F ig. 3 is a sectional view through the center of the signal showing the means of at tachment to the window;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the connection of the operating tube with the signal device;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the connection of the body of the signal device with the arm therefor;

operating means Fig; 7 is a-perspective view of the front part of the. inside of the car-showing the Fig. 8 is a view of'the'band adapted to go around" the steering column expanded out flat and shown partly in section V -'Fig. 9 is a plan ofthe same; and- -Fig. 10 is a. sectional view on the line 10--10' of Fig. 9. a A signal'device constructed in accordance with this invention preferably is provided with a body 10 which is thinibut can be cut outiand ornamented to imitate a person or animal as'may be des1red. This can be made of alight material as wood, pyroxylin' or hard rubber and-:is. provided with a suction cup llonwvhat is really itsfrontface; the face that is ornamented to. give the desired appearance. This suction cuppis intended to be pressed againstithe insideiofthe rear windew 12 of thev automobile to which it is appliedp This holds the signal in upright-position within the rear window; and visible of course through it-by parties in an approac-hing car. Also anotherone canbe put on the windshieldtoindicatedirection to cars, pedestrians and officersiinfront; 1

This body or image 10, is provided on opposite, sides with a pair. of collapsible 7 tubes 13, constituting arms. in the present case, each having an indicator 14in the form of a hand; pointer. or the'like at the end. Within the body 10faTetWo-separate pas.- sages 15 connected with these arms:

The passages 15:e-Xtend-down: Ito .thebottom of the, signal and, are provided. with nipples 18 vset into 1 the material. in any desired Way for receivingitubeslt); Each nipple ,is provided; with avalve 16 shown as a gravity ballvalve, against -agrating 17 above to allow the air to pass freely into the passage 15. When, however, there. is no pressure atthe backand, the only pressure is 011 the top, thisballwill be held to its seatby gravity and air" pressure, but does not constitute a perfectpneumatic seal. The arms 13 Will collapse-gradually by-leaka'ge past the ball 16.

The tubes extend around the car, as indicated more especially injFig; 7,fand'in the form indicated pass to a flexible strip 20, preferably of soft rubber, which is provided with detachable fastening devices 21 at its ends and secured around the steering column 22. This band 20 is provided with two pneumatic operating devices 23, as bulbs, plungers, or air bags formed by recesses therein and having soft thin walls so that pressure can be applied on the convex sides of these air bags by the finger or thumb to force the air out of them and through nipples 24 which are connected with the ALVIN L. JOHNSON.

pipes 19. Each of these air bags is provided with a valve 25 the same as the valve 16.

The application of pressure on one of the bags or bulbs 23 forces the air through that pipe 19 and up through the passage 15 into one of the arms 13, inflating it, and thereby forcing it out as shown at the left in Fig. 1 by the fact vthat the arm is filled with air. In this case the indicator or hand 14 shows the direction of intended motion. As soon as the pressure is relieved from the bulb 23, the air will commence to leak out past the valves 16 and 25 and after a while the arm will fall down by deflation as shown at the right in Fig. 1.

It will be seen therefore that the indicators are inflated in a very simple manner and after the operator has pushed on the bulb 23 with his finger or thumb instantaneously he does not need to keep pushing on it or to pay any further attention to it. He can direct all his attention to driving and the indicator will remain inflated for a reasonable length of time and then drop of its own accord. This constitutes a very simple device without complicated mechanical features, entirely without levers and movingparts extending through the car or even cords to pull andthere is 1 little or nothing to get out of order. These devices will last several seasons when once installed and can be sold cheaply on the market and installed at small expense.

Although I have illustrated and described only one form of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited in this respect, but what I do claim is '1. The combination with a carhaving a window and a steeringcolumn, of a pneumatic direction signal having a suction cup thereon for holding it against the window on-the inside, said signal having two opposite collapsible arnis connected with the interior of the signal separately, a flexible band detachably mounted on the steering column having two flexible air bags therein, and a flexible tube connecting each air bag with one ofsaid arms. i 2. The combination with a car having a 

